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| Labour ponders election defeats | Labour ponders election defeats | ||||||||
| (about 3 hours later) | |||||||||
| Labour politicians are taking stock after the party's defeat in the Scottish Parliament election and the loss of nearly 500 council seats. | Labour politicians are taking stock after the party's defeat in the Scottish Parliament election and the loss of nearly 500 council seats. | ||||||||
| Gordon Brown - expected to be the next PM - is contemplating a future that may be overshadowed by instability north of the border after the SNP victory. | Gordon Brown - expected to be the next PM - is contemplating a future that may be overshadowed by instability north of the border after the SNP victory. | ||||||||
| He will also be planning how to counter "breakthrough" gains for the Tories in the local elections. | He will also be planning how to counter "breakthrough" gains for the Tories in the local elections. | ||||||||
| Labour is also looking for a coalition partner in the Welsh Assembly. | Labour is also looking for a coalition partner in the Welsh Assembly. | ||||||||
| Power share | Power share | ||||||||
| The SNP took 47 seats against Labour's 46 in the Holyrood elections. | The SNP took 47 seats against Labour's 46 in the Holyrood elections. | ||||||||
| The SNP said Labour had lost the "moral authority to govern" in Scotland after the end of its 50 years of dominance. | The SNP said Labour had lost the "moral authority to govern" in Scotland after the end of its 50 years of dominance. | ||||||||
LOCAL COUNCIL RESULTSCouncillors | Councils | Party | +/- | Total | +/- | Total | | LOCAL COUNCIL RESULTSCouncillors | Councils | Party | +/- | Total | +/- | Total | | After 309 of 312 councils. CON 875 5077 38 162 LAB -485 1803 -8 34 LD -242 2113 -4 23 OTH -140 1075 0 5 NOC- - -26 85
| Enter a full postcode: | Enter a full postcode: | ||||||||
Results in more detailSCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RESULTSParty | Const | Regn | +/- | Tot | | Results in more detailSCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RESULTSParty | Const | Regn | +/- | Tot | | After 129 of 129 seats declared SNP2126+2047 LAB379-446 CON413-117 LD115-116 Others03-143
| Enter a full postcode: | Enter a full postcode: | ||||||||
Results in more detailASSEMBLY RESULTSParty | Const | Regn | +/- | Tot | | Results in more detailASSEMBLY RESULTSParty | Const | Regn | +/- | Tot | | After 60 of 60 seats declared LAB242-426 PC78+315 CON57+112 LD3306 Others1001
| Enter a full postcode: | Enter a full postcode: | ||||||||
| Results in more detail | Results in more detail | ||||||||
| But there is no guarantee the SNP will be able to put together a coalition to share power. | But there is no guarantee the SNP will be able to put together a coalition to share power. | ||||||||
| Analysts say the Lib Dems are most likely to enter into an agreement, but they have always said they will not do a deal on a vote for independence. | Analysts say the Lib Dems are most likely to enter into an agreement, but they have always said they will not do a deal on a vote for independence. | ||||||||
| Such a vote has always been central to the SNP's ambitions. | Such a vote has always been central to the SNP's ambitions. | ||||||||
| Even if they do agree, their combined seats alone will not add up to overall control and the support of a third party will be needed. | Even if they do agree, their combined seats alone will not add up to overall control and the support of a third party will be needed. | ||||||||
| Mr Brown said Labour had rallied in Scotland after being given no chance before the elections. | Mr Brown said Labour had rallied in Scotland after being given no chance before the elections. | ||||||||
| 'Labour will learn' | 'Labour will learn' | ||||||||
| He added: "To all those who came back to Labour - and to everyone throughout Britain - my resolve is that we, the Labour Party, will listen and we will learn as we continue to work for and serve the people of Britain." | He added: "To all those who came back to Labour - and to everyone throughout Britain - my resolve is that we, the Labour Party, will listen and we will learn as we continue to work for and serve the people of Britain." | ||||||||
| Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is expected to announce his resignation plans next week, said the results were "a perfectly good springboard" for Labour to win the next general election. | Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is expected to announce his resignation plans next week, said the results were "a perfectly good springboard" for Labour to win the next general election. | ||||||||
| The Conservatives hailed their local council election results "a real breakthrough" after gaining more than 870 council seats. | The Conservatives hailed their local council election results "a real breakthrough" after gaining more than 870 council seats. | ||||||||
| We are now the party of the whole country David CameronConservative leader In Depth: Elections 2007 Scots poll hit by problems Send us your comments | We are now the party of the whole country David CameronConservative leader In Depth: Elections 2007 Scots poll hit by problems Send us your comments | ||||||||
| After gains in key northern areas Mr Cameron said: "We are now the party of the whole country, winning in every part of the country, winning against Labour, winning against the Liberal Democrats." | After gains in key northern areas Mr Cameron said: "We are now the party of the whole country, winning in every part of the country, winning against Labour, winning against the Liberal Democrats." | ||||||||
| In Wales Labour lost three seats but remains the largest party. They seem certain to have to seek the support of rivals before forming the next Welsh Assembly government. | In Wales Labour lost three seats but remains the largest party. They seem certain to have to seek the support of rivals before forming the next Welsh Assembly government. | ||||||||
| Analysts say a deal with the Lib Dems is the likeliest option. | Analysts say a deal with the Lib Dems is the likeliest option. | ||||||||
| But party leaders may ask their members for their views on any deals with other parties before agreeing an arrangement. | But party leaders may ask their members for their views on any deals with other parties before agreeing an arrangement. | ||||||||
| Areas for compromise | |||||||||
| SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said the party stood by its commitment to hold an independence referendum in government. | |||||||||
| We believe that the people of Scotland voted for change on Thursday and I think their wishes have to be respected Nicola SturgeonSNP deputy leader | |||||||||
| "All parties have a duty to reflect on the result and do what is right, not for any party political interest, but do what is right in the interest of Scotland," she said. | |||||||||
| "There will be an independence referendum if there is an SNP government. But during the campaign we have indicated areas for possible compromise. For example, the possibility of a multi-option referendum has been discussed. | |||||||||
| "The SNP have won this election. We believe that the people of Scotland voted for change on Thursday and I think their wishes have to be respected but we will always work with others constructively in the best interested of the country." | |||||||||
| Coalition options | |||||||||
| Liberal Democrat MSP Iain Smith said "the ball was in the court of the SNP". | |||||||||
| He said: "We'll obviously consider any views that are put forward to us by other parties but there are a number of options that are available. | |||||||||
| "There are different coalition options if parties want to do that, there's the minority administration option. | |||||||||
| "It's not for us to make decisions for the SNP. They have to decide what they want to bring forward and we will look at the results as what is best for the Liberal Democrats." | |||||||||
| He said there was no mandate in Scotland for independence and that "there would be no independence referendum". | |||||||||
| BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor says the Liberal Democrats were in a "mood to say no" to a coalition because of their opposition to a referendum on independence and the psychological blow of falling back in the poll. | |||||||||